Originally Posted by
mr_bill
Actual safety issue.
When you install a rear rack, take care that the rear reflector is not partially occluded by the rack, or by items carried on the rack.
-mr. bill
I'm red/green colorblind which makes it a little difficult to discern, but do you see a red reflector anywhere on that bike?
In addition to it being a safety issue, it not being visible from behind is an actual legal issue under Illinois law as well:
It requires "a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Department which shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle."
"I can't see the reflector" while driving behind is a perfectly valid reason for the cop to make the stop and write a ticket. If the rider wants to be hyper-technical to justify riding around poorly equipped, he should probably know the law better than this. He just got lucky that the cop didn't read it closely enough to realize he had him on something.